273 Exhaust manifold question

[chryslerfat]

Hi, thanks to all for this wonderful forum! I have a 65 'cuda w/273 (tired & smoky w/auto/console shift manual steering and purchased a '74 dart parts car for the 5 on 4 1/2 upgrade and it has a 318 2bbl, headers<really low on driver side> that is a whole lot more eager sounding that I am going to "perk" up and transplant.

Question is, are there stock cast manifolds (later years/other applications) that would offer a performance gain over the stock 1965 273, while letting me possibly convert to power steering? Curious as to where a different manifold may yield gains as compared to headers.. *ease* of fit a plus. Car is 95 % street and will run a small 4bbl, mild(er) cam and strive for comp. in 9.5 range. Thought I read somewhere about a 90-ish? year model something that offered a cast manifold that compared to early years performance cast manifolds...

All comments appreciated!

Power steering takes away all but the 64-66 left manifold option. Leave the manual and it opens it a little. Not sure on headers with power steering.

 

[64ragtop]

....Are there stock cast manifolds (later years/other applications) that would offer a performance gain over the stock 1965 273, while letting me possibly convert to power steering? Curious as to where a different manifold may yield gains as compared to headers.. *ease* of fit a plus. Car is 95 % street and will run a small 4bbl, mild(er) cam and strive for comp. in 9.5 range. Thought I read somewhere about a 90-ish? year model something that offered a cast manifold that compared to early years performance cast manifolds... All comments appreciated!

You're probably referring to the occasional posts about the Dakota/Durango manifolds on early A-body cars. I found this in the archives:
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/archive/index.php/t-34680.html
Some say yes, some say no, and I still haven't spent the money to give it the old college try.

ATB and Merry Christmas to all

BC

 

[pishta]

Ha, I spent the money..and never got them logs to test! But thats another story. The only place they would interfere according to what I can see it the driver side down pipe and the steering shaft, and maybe the power steering fitting on top. The fact that the down pipe really kicks back toward the firewall may make it a little tight, but they are supposed to flow better than any 340 log with exception to old pass 3-1 log.

 

[64ragtop]

Ha, I spent the money..and never got them logs to test! But thats another story. The only place they would interfere according to what I can see it the driver side down pipe and the steering shaft, and maybe the power steering fitting on top. The fact that the down pipe really kicks back toward the firewall may make it a little tight, but they are supposed to flow better than any 340 log with exception to old pass 3-1 log.

You paid for a set and got stiffed? Bummer! Has anyone done flow tests on the various manifolds out there? I keep thinking power rack & pinion, "bend" the steering shaft w/ u-joints, and open up a whole new world of room on the driver's side of an early A! Now if someone actually made a power rack & pinion rig for early A bodies. (All I want for Christmas is ....)

ATB

BC

 

[pishta]

Have I got news for you......Guzzimark and GTMopar both have racks in their pre 67 rigs. GT says a Toyo rear steer rack can be made to work. I was thinking the same thing but modding a set of headers is easier! The rack replaces the center link, just have to get it mounted down there (perhaps off the trans bell) and redirect the shaft to the input shaft, a double U is needed as the input is almost at a 90. There is also a chance of bump steer as the suspension is moving p and down but the rack is not so the caster will change slightly over bumps. If you go front steer , having the rack in the K behind the sway bar is what alterk8tion's tubular K does with coil suspension. Y still have the steering shaft going all the way forward but you dont have a box right under the 3/5 ports.

 

[Hell_Fish]

You paid for a set and got stiffed? Bummer! Has anyone done flow tests on the various manifolds out there? I keep thinking power rack & pinion, "bend" the steering shaft w/ u-joints, and open up a whole new world of room on the driver's side of an early A! Now if someone actually made a power rack & pinion rig for early A bodies. (All I want for Christmas is ....)

ATB

BC

Bob, you can cut the bottom of your outer steering colum and replace the factory u joint for a modern one and create more room.